How to Choose the Perfect Counter Height Bar Stools
Thanks for visiting this website. Our goal is to help you find just the right counter height bar stools for your needs.
Generally counter stools are used with a kitchen island for informal dining. Being able to gather in the kitchen for meals is an easy and cozy way to eat. It fits into today's lifestyles quite nicely.
Counter stools for your kitchen reflect your unique taste and decorating style. They add an accent of personality to your decor. Choosing just the right one can be a challenge but thankfully, internet shopping has made it a lot easier.
Find the Correct Height for Your Counter Stool
Measure the height of your counter before shopping for a bar stool. As a rule, you need a stool that's about 11"- 12" shorter than your counter. So if your counter is 35" to 37" inches, you'll need a stool that's between 24" and 26". This is the typical height of the average kitchen counter or island.
Counter height dining tables are popular, too. You may have seen them at furniture store websites. The seats for them are generally 24" high.
How to Measure
First measure from the top edge of your counter. The average kitchen or island counter top is 36" give or take an inch. The most comfortable fit for this height is a stool that gives you room for your legs and still sits you high enough at the counter so you don't feel like a little kid without a booster seat.
Measure the counter stool from the top of the seat to the floor. A 24-28 inch stool is the most comfortable for the 36" counter. Slight variations will accomodate different body types.
Styles of Bar Stools
The first thing to decide before purchasing new bar stools is if you want ones with or without a back.
Backless counter stools tend to be more informal and visually take up less space in your kitchen. They can have a somewhat rustic saddle-seat style or a very modern and sleak metal look that swivels. Stools without a back are very convenient to use because you can easily slide on and off from any side.
Swivel stools come in handy when you have limited space in between each one. Choose between ones that go a complete 360 degrees or ones that have a return swivel - where the seat always returns back to face forward after you get off.
Adjustable height stools are also a nice feature. They have a hydraulic mechanism that allows them to go up and down much like an office chair. This gives you the ability to customize the height to your personal liking.
Metal bar stools come in alot of different finishes from brushed aluminum to aged bronze. They can have an ultra-modern look or a rustic traditional look. There is no shortage of choices available for you to choose from.
Another popular choice are leather bar stools. Besides the comfort of natural leather, they also add an elegant touch of luxury. They can come with a metal frame or a wooden one in a large variety of finishes from oak, maple and pine.
No matter what style or finish of counter height bar stools you prefer, shopping on the internet will give you the widest choices available.